Artificial candle



United States Patent 3,097,514 ARTIFECIAL CANDLE Arthur H. Stone, 212Broadway, Massapequa Park, N.Y. Filed Nov. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 149,649 4Claims. (Cl. 67-55) This invention relates to illuminating devices andmore particularly to a liquid fueled artificial candle simulative ofknown varieties of wax candles and possessed of features and advantagesadditional to the illuminating and decorative qualities of suchconventionally familiar candles.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice of the invention, the same being realised and attained by meansof the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations andimprovements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical crosssection view of the present device wherein thewick-holder is received in operative position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an isolated perspective view of the wickholder according tothe invention.

The invention is generally directed to providing improvements in candlesubstitutes, and more specifically to the end of furnishing a portablelighting means of attractive appearance, comprised of few and simpleparts, inexpensive with respect to production, and economical inperforming its function of light production by the combustion of aliquid fuel.

One object of the invention is to provide an artificial candlecomprising a casing simulating the appearance of a wax candle, awick-tube being removably received with in the head of the casing, andfrictionally retained therein to facilitate ready removal thereof forthe purpose of fuel replenishment and wick adjustment.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a candlesubstitute adapted to burn liquid fuel and having a wick-holder, whichby virtue of its fluted surface configuration, is adapted to providecommunication between the fuel chamber and the atmosphere without thecandle structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simulatedcandle having a frictionally secured wickholder within the head thereof,said Wick-holder having a surface configuration of desirable heatradiating characteristics to thereby effectuate minimization of heattransfer between the wick-holder and the candle casing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an artificial candlehaving a readily accessible and graspable wick-tube enabling quickremoval thereof and subsequent exposure of a large fuel receivingopening in communication with the fuel chamber.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of aliquid fuel burning candle having a wickholder receivable within thehead of the candle and readily adjustable for permitting or curtailingventing communication between the fuel chamber and the atmospherewithout the candle structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an artificialcandle which permanently retains its shape, length, and light producingproperties and which is substantially resistant to distortion ordeterioration.

3,091,514 Patented July 16, 1963 It will be understood that theforegoing general objectives and the following detailed description aswell are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of theinvention.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings,FIGURE 1 shows the artificial candle designated generally by numeral 1,the said candle being comprised of substantially cylindrical casingformed of head portion 2, body portion 4 and base portion 6.

Wick-holder 8 illustrated perspectively in FIGURE 4 of the drawings is,in said FIGURE 1 thereof, shown received within vertical bore 10contained within the upper region of said head portion 2, said borebeing defined by upper end 12 in communication with the atmosphere andlower end 14 in communication with passage 16 which leads directly tofuel chamber 18.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it is observed that said wickholder 8 is formedof top piece 20 terminating at upper end 22 and annular collar 24 at thelower end respectively, and reduced tubular sleeve 26 dependingcentrally of said collar. A reduced bore 28 extends axially through saidtubular sleeve to the upper end of the said top piece for receiving awick 39 which projects at the end of the wick-holder, the other portionof the wick depending into said fuel chamber 18. The Wick 30 ispreferably of sufficient length that it will extend, as shown, throughthe upper end of the wick-holder and to the bottom of the chamber,thereby assuring consumption of the entire liquid contents withoutreplenishment thereof.

In the artificial candle art, heretofore, several formidabledifliculties have been encountered, a most salient problem being thepreclusion of heat transfer between wick and candle casing, thepronouncement of this problern being occasioned primarily where plasticcasings are employed. To the end of obviating this among other problemsto be described herein, the wicker-holder according to this invention isprovided with a vertically fluted surface at 32, with respect to saidtop piece, and at 34, with respect to said reduced sleeve, seen inFIGURES 2 and 3 respectively.

Annular shoulder 36 illustrated in FIGURE 1 and disposed at the lowerend of said vertical bore 10, provides a seat for a toroidal shapedO-ring 3Si, said O-ring being adapted for frictionally securing saidwick-holder within said vertical bore. Inasmuch as the top piece 20 isvertically oriented within the said bore, space 40 is providedperipherally of said top piece and said head portion 2, there being noheat conduction therebetween. By dint of the fiulted surfaceconfiguration aforedescribed, heat absorbed by metallic wick-holder 8 isreadily dissipated within said space, negligible heat being convected tosaid plastic head portion of said casing.

Inasmuch as the wick substantially seals the reduced bore 28, transferof air from without the candle to within the said fuel chamber is notreadily permitted. Accordingly, and especially with utilization ofnon-volatile liquid fuels, a vacuum created within the fuel chamber upondepletion of the fuel hinders normal capillary flow of fuel to the endof the wick thereby causing flickering and ultimate extinguishment ofthe flame. It will therefore be appreciated that orifices 42 provided byvirtue of the cooperation between fluted surface 34 and the insidesurface of the said O-ring enables atmospheric communication throughsaid O-ring, said reduced sleeve 26, and the said fuel chamber therebyproviding for essential venting.

It will be further observed that wick-holder 8 being slidably andfriotionally related to the said O-ring 38, may be raised or lowered toeither sealingly engage top piece-collar 24 and O-ring or to provide anannular passage therebetween to permit continual venting. That is,substantially positive shut-off of fuel flow from fuel chamber 18 towithout the candle is accomplished by pressing the said wick holderdownwardly in said vertical bore to a position of contiguity with saidO-ring, such position being desirable during periods of candle storageor nonuse.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 4, knurled region 46 peripherallylocated adjacent the upper end 22 of said top piece is provided to bothmaterially enhance rapid heat dissipation from said wick-holder and tofacilitate grasping of the said wick-holder for removal thereof fromsaid vertical bore for purposes of refueling through said passage 16 andfor adjustment or replacement of said wick 30.

Base portion 6 shown received within the well of a candelabra or othersupporting base 48 is preferably of hollow construction thus encouragingsnugness between its convergingly tapered contour and thecorrespondingly complementary base configuration.

Although the construction of the aforedescribed artificial candle [ispreferably one piece or integral with respect to the casing members, itwill be understood that severable member construction is within thecontemplation of the invention. Similarly, plastic construction, e.g.,polystyrenes, polyoarb'onates, etc, while preferred do not precludechoice and utilization of other suitable materials. It will be furtherunderstood that within the purview of this invention various changes maybe made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, thecombination thereof and mode of operation, which generally statedconsist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, asdisclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial candle comprised of a casing having head, body and baseportions, a bore within said head portion, a wick holder, a fuel chamberwithin said body pontion, and a wick extending through said wick holderinto said fuel chamber, said wick holder including a ventically flutedtop piece having upper and lower ends, a vertically fluted tubularsleeve depending integrally and centrally of said lower end, saidtubular sleeve being smaller of diameter than said top piece so as toform an annular collar at the junction of said lower end and saidtubular sleeve, an O-ring frictionally secured annularly of said tubularsleeve and contiguously with said annular collar, said bore having anupper passage and a substantially smaller lower passage, a shoulderdisposed annularly at the juncture of said passages, said passages beingdisposed in vertical coaxial relation and in communioation with saidfuel chamber, said tubular sleeve being slidably received within saidlower passage, said O-ring being slidably and sealingly secured withinsaid upper passage and adapted for seating engagement with saidshoulder.

2. An artificial candle comprised of a casing having head, body, andbase portions, a bore within said head portion, a wick holder, a fuelchamber within said body portion, and a wick extending through said wickholder into said fuel chamber, said wick holder including a top piecehaving upper and lower ends, a vertically fluted sleeve dependingintegrally and centrally of said lower end, said sleeve being smaller ofdiameter than said top piece so as to form an annular collar at thejunction of said lower end and said sleeve, an O-ring frictionallysecured annularly of said sleeve and contiguously with said annularcollar, said bore having an upper passage and a substantially smallerlower passage, a shoulder disposed annularly at the juncture of saidpassages, said passages being disposed in vertical coaxial relation andin communication with said fuel chamber, said sleeve being slidablyreceived within said lower passage, said O-ring being slidably andsealingly secured within said upper passage, and adapted for seatingengagement with said shoulder.

3. An artificial candle comprised of a casing having head, body, andbase portions, a bore within said head portion, a wick holder, a fuelchamber within said body portion, and a wick extending through said wickholder into said fuel chamber, said wick holder including a top piecehaving upper and lower ends, a vertically fluted sleeve dependingintegrally and centrally of said lower end, said sleeve extending intosaid fuel chamber, said sleeve being smaller of diameter than said toppiece so as to form an annular collar at the junction of said lower endand said sleeve, an O-ring frictionally secured annularly of said sleeveand contiguously with said annular collar, said bore having an upperpassage and a substantially smaller lower passage, a shoulder disposedannularly at the juncture of said passages, said passages being disposedin vertical coaxial relation and in comrnunication with said fuelchamber, said sleeve being slidably received within said lower passage,said O-ring being slidably and sealingly secured within said upperpassage, and adapted for seating engagement with said shoulder.

4. An artificial candle comprised of a casing having head, body, andbase portions, a bore within said head portion, a wick holder, a fuelchamber within said body portion, and a wick extending through said wickholder into said "fuel chamber, said wick holder including a top piecehaving upper and lower ends, said top piece being knurled adjacent itsupper end and vertically fluted adjacent its lower end, a verticallyfluted sleeve depending integrally and centrally of said lower end, saidsleeve extending into said fuel chamber, said sleeve being smaller ofdiameter than said top piece so as to form an annular collar at thejunction of said lower end and said sleeve, an *O-ring frictionallysecured annularly of said sleeve and contiguously with said annularcollar, said bore having an upper passage and a substantially smallerlower passage, a shoulder disposed annularly at the juncture of saidpassages, said passages being disposed in vertical coaxial relation andin communication with said fuel chamber, said sleeve being slidablyreceived within said lower passage, said O-ring being slidably andsealingly secured within said upper passage, and adapted for seatingengagement with said shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS176,320 Kowalski Apr. 18, 1876 211,850 Jackson Feb. 4, 1879 1,980,251Becker Nov. 13, 1934 2,503,496 Kwasniewski Apr. 11, 1950 2,984,093Goddard et al. May 16, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 849,234 Germany Mar. 19,1953

1. AN ARTIFICIAL CANDLE COMPRISED OF A CASING HAVING HEAD, BODY AND BASEPORTIONS, A BORE WITHIN SAID HEAD PORTION, A WICK HOLDER, FUEL CHAMBERWITHIN SAID BODY PORTION, AND A WICK EXTENDING THROUGH SAID WICK HOLDERINTO SAID FUEL CHAMBER, SAID WICK HOLDER INCLUDING A VERTICALLY FLUTEDTOP PIECE HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, A VERTICALLY FLUTED TUBULARSLEEVE DEPENDING INTEGRALLY AND CENTRALLY OF SAID LOWER END, SAIDTUBULAR SLEEVE BEING SMALLER OF DIAMETER THAN SAID TOP PIECE SO AS TOFORM AN ANNULAR COLLAR AT THE JUNCTION OF SAID LOWER END AND SAIDTUBULAR SLEEVE, AN O-RING FRICTIONALLY SECURED ANNULARLY OF SAID TUBULARSLEEVE AND CONTIGUOUSLY WITH SAID ANNULAR COLLAR, SAID BORE HAVING ANUPPER PASSAGE AND A SUBSTANTIALLY SMALL LOWER PASSAGE, A SHOULDERDISPOSED ANNULARLY AT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID PASSAGES, SAID PASSAGES BEINGDISPOSED IN VERTICAL COAXIAL RELATION AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAIDFUEL CHAMBER, SAID TUBULAR SLEEVE BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAIDLOWER PASSAGE, SAID O-RING BEING SLIDABLY AND SEALINGLY SECURED WITHINSAID